Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

What's Lee Harris' plan for public transportation in Shelby County? We'll find out this week.

A year after taking office, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris will roll out his plan to address shortfalls in funding the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

He’ll make his presentation to the Shelby County Commission in a Wednesday committee meeting, according to a letter sent to commissioners Sunday.

Commissioners already dedicated $2.5 million for MATA public infrastructure needs in their 2020 budget, but that money fell far short of the $30 million per year additional investment that MATA has frequently cited as a need.

Buy Photo

Riders board a MATA bus at the William Hudson Transit Center in downtown Memphis on April 3, 2019.(Photo: Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

“I believe we are in a historic moment with great opportunity on the horizon,” Harris wrote. “MATA has nearly 7 million rides per year and demand for millions more. Many of those riders rely on public transit to get to work and, once the work day is over, they rely on transit to get back home in time for dinner with their families. If we can increase revenue to public transit, we can change the lives of many, many of these families.”

In an earlier letter to the commission, Harris said that if funding is approved under his plan, it could be set up to flow as early as fiscal year 2021.

In June, MATA presented its transit vision to the Shelby County Commission. The recommended network brings an additional 103,000 jobs within a half mile of frequent transit, according to the presentation, and will increase the percent of city residents near transit service.